charlie, In the past I've used solid core solder as a rule of thumb gauge. Bolt the head on without the gasket, this gives you about .030 closer clearance or zero. Put a small peace of solder on the top of the piston, turn the engine over real slow, you might feel a bump,depending on the pistons. Pull the head back off and (mike) the solder. This thickness plus the head gasket is your true valve pocket clearance. You can get solid core solder in several gauges of thickness. I use 1/8" I have heard of people using plastic gauge but I never saw it that thick. Race car engine builders use clay but they have better things to measure them with then most of us have at home.